Bliss responds to Government announcement to remove non-EU doctors and nurses from the Tier 2 visa limit

Bliss responds to Government announcement to remove non-EU doctors and nurses from the Tier 2 visa limit

The Government is relaxing immigration rules to allow more doctors and nurses from outside the EU into the UK. Read our response here.

"Bliss is delighted that the Government has changed its stance and will now exclude doctors and nurses from the visa-cap, which sets a limit for all non-EU skilled workers at 20,700 people a year.

“This is welcome news because the current volume of medical vacancies up and down the country is putting neonatal services in increased jeopardy. In recent weeks Bliss has heard from concerned clinicians that rota gaps are resulting in units being severely understaffed. We have also heard that some vital neonatal transport services have been unable to operate 24 hours a day.

“While this change in policy should help ease some of the most acute staffing challenges in the short to medium term, Bliss research shows that two thirds of neonatal units do not have enough doctors to meet quality standards. A longer term and joined-up national approach to workforce planning across all neonatal staffing groups cannot be put off any longer. ’’